DAY 14: PRAY CONSTANTLY

I often encounter a misconception about prayer that I call the salt-shaker principle. Namely that a little prayer here, a little prayer there—like we’re seasoning our food with salt—should be enough. I’m here to tell you that a little “seasoning” is not enough. We need to saturate our lives in prayer!

In fact, we’re told that we’re to pray at all times about all things; that our lives should be lived with a continual, abiding attitude of prayerful devotion and dependence upon God. As followers of Christ, we ought always to be a mere breath away from prayer. But I’ve discovered in my own life that I won’t pray “anywhere and everywhere” until I first pray somewhere.

Many times we become discouraged because we just don’t know what else to say to the Lord. If our prayer is a monologue, we won’t last very long as we pray! We must remember that prayer is not just saying things to God. Prayer is also listening to God.

When we stay long enough at the place of prayer, God is able to speak to us and clarify His will, teaching us what to pray. “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27).

So what does it look like to pray without ceasing? It means to pray as often as we can, about everything that we can.

A habit is something we can’t stop doing—something we do constantly. And our habits, once we form them, form us. But not all habits are bad! We are told in the Scripture that the vital habit of the believer should be prayer. We should cultivate the habit of prayer, and make it a “habit” of our hearts. And certainly the more we do something, the better we get at it.

When was the last time you missed a meal because you prayed? When was the last time you prayed late into the night because you were burdened? When was the last time you got up early in the morning because you need to seek the face of God?

Nehemiah prayed with that kind of passion. He prayed with that kind of heart, desire, and persistence. And in turn, God answered his prayers in mighty ways.